Michael D. Higgins

Michael Daniel Higgins is an Irish politician, poet, broadcaster and sociologist who has served as the ninth president of Ireland since 2011. Entering national politics through the Labour Party, he served as a senator from 1973 to 1977 having been nominated by the Taoiseach. Elected in 1981 as a Teachta Dála (TD), he represented the Galway West constituency from 1981 to 1982 and 1987 to 2011. Between these terms, he returned to Seanad Éireann from 1983 to 1987 as a senator for the National University. He served as minister for arts, culture and the Gaeltacht from 1993 to 1997 and mayor of Galway from 1981 to 1982 and 1990 to 1991. Higgins was the president of the Labour Party from 2003 to 2011, until he resigned following his election as president of Ireland.

18 April 1941

Born on the same birth day (18 April): Alia Shawkat • Carlos Manuel de Céspedes • Clarence Darrow • Isaac Babalola Akinyele • Kathy Acker • Lucrezia Borgia • Marcus Schmuck • Mike Vickers • Olena Zhupiyeva-Vyazova • Siegfried Bettmann • Waldemar Hammenhög • Willie Roaf

Born in the same month (April 1941): Ajit Wadekar • Ann-Margret • Bobby Russell • Cornelia Frances • Ellen Goodman • Karl Barry Sharpless • Lee Roy Jordan • Michael Stuart Brown • Pete Rose • Sonny Throckmorton